ba chân bốn cẳng
adverb
Hanoi [ʔɓaː˧˧ t͡ɕən˧˧ ʔɓon˧˦ kaŋ˧˩]Huế [ʔɓaː˧˧ t͡ɕəŋ˧˧ ʔɓoŋ˦˧˥ kaŋ˧˨]Saigon [ʔɓaː˧˧ cəŋ˧˧ ʔɓoŋ˦˥ kaŋ˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
ba chân bốn cẳng means at full tilt; at maximum speed; in a flash.
Meanings of ba chân bốn cẳng in English
Adverb
- figurative at full tilt; at maximum speed; in a flash; on the double; like a bat out of hell
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, ba chân bốn cẳng could be written as 𠀧𧽍𦊚𨃈. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
ba (“three”) + chân (“leg”) + bốn (“four”) + cẳng (“foot”).
Frequently asked questions
What does ba chân bốn cẳng mean in English?
ba chân bốn cẳng (adverb) means "at full tilt; at maximum speed; in a flash".
How do you pronounce ba chân bốn cẳng?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔɓaː˧˧ t͡ɕən˧˧ ʔɓon˧˦ kaŋ˧˩]; Saigon [ʔɓaː˧˧ cəŋ˧˧ ʔɓoŋ˦˥ kaŋ˨˩˦]. Tones: ba — level tone (ngang), chân — level tone (ngang), bốn — rising tone (sắc), cẳng — dipping tone (hỏi).